Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all in all the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ in the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me so then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In fact, I do not even judge myself as God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part. . What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things and it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith.
James 3:17,18
1 Corinthians 4:1-3
Titus 1:7
Ephesians 4:1-16
